Music History and Appreciation

Blending aspects of musicology and music cognition studies, the course will analyze the development of popular music from within both business and artistic contexts, while expanding students' appreciation for and knowledge of a wide variety of historical and contemporary genres of music. How the mind processes music will be explored from the perspectives of the neurosciences, psychology, biology, psycho-acoustics, sociology, and ethnomusicology. The course will also help develop students' vocabulary for discussing sound. The commercial drivers that have influenced popular music will be given particular attention as will the concept of artist development and the role of A&R. As well as looking at the history of the art form, students will become versed in the history of the music industry, learning how it has evolved and who some of the most influential executives, managers, and producers are that have shaped it.